Disclaimer: Yami no Matsuei is the creation of Matushita and associates. FF is non-profit, meant for entertainment only.

FF can be archived anywhere, just let me know where. Please send no flames, I'm sensitive. For all other comments 0_o you may contact me at kaoru_koishii@yahoo.com

Category: Yami no Matsuei

Title: Hidden research, an experiment in death and rebirth.

Rating: PG-13

Summary: An experiment leads to rebirth for a green-eyed shinigami, tearing him away from death and a devoted partner.

Admiror

*************

He woke with a start. Looking around his surroundings in the early morning light. Things didn't look as fuzzy as they had at night. He looked up, noticing a small white bird circling over him. He rose off the cold cement when out of the corner of his eye he caught sight of something. A shadow fell over him and he realized that he seemed to sense them a little too late. He inched back and fell right into the fountain. He splashed the concrete as he rose from the chilled water.

"Where did you think you would go?"

He stepped out of the water carefully keeping his eyes on the silver haired man. He was feeling an array of emotions. He realized very quickly that everything he was feeling at the moment didn't belong solely to him.

"You are my creation, a beautiful constructed doll." Light bounced of Muraki's glasses making him appear deranged. He smiled at the youth. "There is nowhere to go." The silver haired man walked closer to the trembling form. "No purple-eyed shinigami to save you." The mad scientist laughed at that.

"Not quite."

Both creation and creator turned to the new voice. A man, tall and thin, dressed in a dark brown suit stood several feet behind them. The glasses on the new comer added depth to his seriousness.

"Tatsumi-san, I thought for sure it would be Tsuzuki who'd have come for the boy." Muraki turned to face the shinigami. "Or is he too distraught?"

Shadows seemed to emerge, breaking the ground in front of him. Debris broke in large chunks as Tatsumi walked towards them, the shadows growing larger as he stepped closer.

Muraki made a leap for his creation. At the same time a dark ominous shadow sprung from the earth tossing the scientist to the side and holding him down. "He's mine I made him." The doctor struggled. The shadow grew thick, heavier and Muraki almost yelped in pain.

Tatsumi grabbed the boy. There was a struggle but he got his arms around the youth. The youth screamed in agony then slumped into Tatsumi's arms. In a couple of seconds they were gone.

Long moments after, the shadow disappeared leaving behind a mad scientist. Blood dripped from several cuts on his face and neck. He stood trembling with repressed fury.

His creation.

The prototype he'd spent countless hours perfecting to create. One step closer to building Saki's body. But now . . . . . everything was ruined. He fisted his hands. This isn't the end. It was his creation, damn it. If they wanted their shinigami they could go and dig up his body. The doctor gripped his collar and disappeared in bright lights, leaving behind small feathers in place of where he'd stood.

*************

Tatsumi placed the body on the hospital stretcher. He moved, rather was shoved aside as both Tsuzuki and Watari leaned in to get a look.

"What's wrong with him?" Tsuzuki's voice wavered at the sight of the boy.

"I'll need time to run tests. Tsuzuki I know you want to be here but you really must go. I'll call you as soon as I'm done," Watari said as he began to unbutton the smock the youth was wearing.

"I want to stay."

"I know but you can't." Watari moved to his pc and punched in a few keys. "Tatsumi please." That's all he had to say to the secretary.

Tatsumi grabbed an arm and began pulling the brunet out of the room. The candy loving man however was not his usual self and he wrenched his arm out of the others hold. "I'm not leaving."

Tatsumi's face, frozen in unnatural calmness looked at the distraught man in front of him. "I'm sorry." He said before he grabbed the distressed brunet in a surprisingly strong hold. Tsuzuki's arms were twisted behind his back as he was forcedly removed and released only when they stood outside the room.

Tatsumi stood in front of the door. He pushed his glasses with his finger in a familiar gesture as he stared at his ex-partner.

Tsuzuki's temper flared around him, knocking down the wall in front. Debris fell around him as he glared at his long time friend.

"That's coming out of your pay Tsuzuki." The secretary said conversationally.

"I need to be in there." Tsuzuki's voice was low. Serious in his threat he spoke. "Move aside."

"I'm afraid I can't do that."

Tsuzuki cursed, stomping the floor in agitation. He was so angry. Though eventually he sighed in resignation. Suddenly a thought occurred to him. "Where did you find him?"

"Nagasaki, I believe it's where you two first met."

The purple-eyed man was hesitant in asking but he did so anyways. "Was he there?"

Tatsumi knew whom he meant by he. "Yes, seems like the youth escaped. I got there before Muraki could take him back. There was a struggle but he's not dead."

The door swung open then. An over-enthusiastic Watari stood in the doorway. "You won't believe it." He breathed. "You just won't believe it." The blond doctor went back inside and both Tatsumi and Tsuzuki followed. "He's alive." Watari said as he pulled his pc closer to the sleeping form. "He's actually alive."

Tatsumi and Tsuzuki looked at each other not sure they were following.

"It's a break through." Watari thought out loud. "Unimaginable." He said as he typed. "Hmm." What was this? He hadn't seen this before. He typed several more commands and frowned. His mouth parted slightly as new information scrolled across the screen.

Tsuzuki, glad the doctor was distracted inched closer to the youth. "Why does he look different?" He wondered as he leaned over the lithe form.

"Its' because he's twenty."

Tatsumi and Tsuzuki turned again to Watari for an explanation.

"The boy's body is consistent with that of a twenty-year-old. Genetically speaking his body is perfect. It's amazing." Watari said before going quiet again.

Tsuzuki turned back to the sleeping form. "Hisoka." He whispered as he reached for the boy's hand. A jolt ran up his arm and the boy's eyes flew open the moment they touched. Startled as he was, Tsuzuki didn't let go of the hand.

Hisoka rose quickly, looking around the room. His eyes landing on the man who'd saved him. "Where?" The rest of his words died off as images, words and sounds pulled him into a whirlpool, drowning him as memories began to resurface. A flash ran behind his lids before he was pulled under.

A flash of crimson.

An atrocious crime under a blood filled moon.

A red moon bearing pain and loss.

Darkness consumed him then.

In the abyss a gleam exploded into light.

And he could breath, he could sense and he could see.

A tall brunet with piercing violet eyes.

Silver hair and pain. A lot of pain.

The image of the brunet, again and again.

The fire. A blazing display of flames.

A large snake and the brunet again. He's hurt.

A deep hurt threatening to swallow him whole.

There's a boy, blond and thin with distant emerald eyes.

Detached and aloof yet he's the only one that ease the pain.

So he'll stay with the brunet. Here where the flames burn.

Here with the brunet. They'll vanish together.

The images sped closer together until he couldn't tell them apart. His head hurt. A sudden pain, sharp and throbbing caused him to double over. The flashes stopped and he was left breathing hard. Moments later when he could breath again he ventured in opening his eyes.

"You all right?" Tsuzuki 's voice is thick with worry. His purple eyes held him intently, making him flush and turn away. It's when he turned that he realizes he was been held.

"Tsuzuki?" His voice echoed strangely in his ears. He tried again moving in the embrace so he could look at the brunet holding him. "Tsuzuki."

"It's me Hisoka. It's me." The brunet affirmed.

"Hisoka." He repeated. "Hisoka." It sounded, right. His name was Hisoka. He and this man, they were . . . . . friends. The youth looked at the brunet closely, reading something in the depths of the mans' eyes. Dark pools of amethyst, so captivating. Friends no longer seemed like the right word.

Tsuzuki looked at the array of emotions running over the elfin face. He shielded his emotions so the youth would feel nothing but warmth from him. Maybe a bit of worry since he couldn't seem to rein that emotion in. "Do you know where you are?" He whispered to the youth.

"At work."

"Do you know where work is?" The blond scientist asked. He'd been quiet up until now but with the new data he received while those two had been interacting had been too much to keep him out.

Hisoka looked pensive for a moment. "No." He thought. A scowl appearing on his porcelain features the more he thought about it. "Why don't I know?"

"There could be a number of reasons but I'll need to run more tests. Tell me, you know Tsuzuki. But what do you know? His name, what he is or what he means to you specifically?"

"Hisoka's been through enough. I think we should let him rest." Tsuzuki said pulling the youth's body just a little closer to him.

Hisoka began to feel a mingling of emotions again. Wonder, excitement, joy, worry, sadness and protectiveness. After a moment he could tell which feelings belonged to whom. But the effort seemed to make his head hurt. He leaned back away from the doctor. "I have a headache."

"Yes, I imagine that you would. All right we'll let you rest." Watari said moving back. "Let's go Tsuzuki."

"No, I'll stay till he's asleep."

"Tsuzuki you haven't slept since he disappeared." Watari reasoned. He watched in satisfaction as the brunet squirmed. Only the boy could kick him out. Scold him for not taking care of himself.

Hisoka however remained quiet. "I need to rest." He said as he began to lie down. "Stay if you want Tsuzuki."

Tsuzuki smiled and hurriedly dragged a chair over to the boy's bedside.

Watari frowned and left the room. Sometimes Tsuzuki was just too dense. He couldn't get the hint. He closed the door behind him and headed for Tatsumi's office. He wished the secretary had stayed. There was a lot they needed to further discuss. Like why the boy was alive. And why the curse was gone from his skin if the doctor was still alive. There were too many inconsistencies for his liking. Far too many.

*************

"So he called him his creation." Watari repeated. "What did he mean by that?"

Tatsumi remained silent. They had never seen anything like this. They had seen something similar. The first case Kurosaki and Tsuzuki worked together on. It had dealt with Maria Wong being brought back to life but it had been different. They had all agreed she needed blood to stay alive while Hisoka's body was alive. How could someone have brought his essence back?

"They would have had to kill him." Watari voiced.

Tatsumi looked on, expectantly.

"Muraki would have had to kill the boy, or bleed him close enough to near death. Thought what I don't get is where he stored the boys' soul while he healed the body." Watari frowned while he thought. "I still don't understand why the curse is gone. Why would Muraki lift the curse? And Hisoka's body?" Watari slumped back into the chair in front of the secretary.

"Are you sure it's Kurosaki-kun?"

Watari perked up. "What do you mean?"

"You said he was twenty."

"Yes but any potion I create could do the same." Watari interrupted.

"His body you said was perfect. Wouldn't that suggest to you that perhaps the person in the hospital wing is not really Kurosaki?" Tatsumi explain.

"So you think it's someone else with the boys' memories?"

Tatsumi almost sighed. "What I'm saying it that perhaps. It's not his body."

Watari looked taken back. Not his body. A creation. He would have to run more tests to confirm that theory. Still, science wasn't so far along that they could just build a human body. The mad scientist was smart and under different circumstances perhaps even brilliant. So if it was possible for anyone it might be him. Plus he did practice some on the darker arts. He might know of a way to hold the soul prisoner until he could release it into another body. "It's possible that he might have genetically engineered a body to house the boy's soul but in all essence of the word. He is Hisoka."

Tatsumi nodded.

"He's a bit disoriented. It seems like he's getting used to being an empath again." Watari paused in his evaluation. "What should we tell Tsuzuki?"

Tatsumi's face was blank. "Only that he needs to be careful. Muraki is going to come for his creation and we, though most of all he, needs to be ready."

Watari nodded.

*************

"Tsukiori is fairly into a cult religion. It's said when he sees a person prettier than him, he performs a curse ceremony and the person will die.

Tsuzuki stared at Hisoka grimly. "Hisoka . . . . If you're scared, do you want to come sleep with me?"

Hisoka opened his eyes, escaping the dream. Turning his head lightly he could see a mop of chocolate brown hair resting on the bed right by his hand. He watched as his hand moved of it's own accord, threading his fingers into the thick hair. The brunet made a contend sound in sleep turning his face towards the hand perhaps in hopes of being caressed.

"Tsuzuki."

It was a whisper but the brunet woke. Hisoka pulled his hand back just before the older man raised his head. Tsuzuki smiled sleepily at him. "Are you feeling better now?" Tsuzuki rasped his voice still thick with sleep.

"Yeah." Hisoka held the brunet gaze before he looked away. "How long do you think they'll make me stay here?"

Tsuzuki stared at the youth intently, long after the boy had looked away. "Not too long. No more than a week I would say." Tsuzuki paused. "I think it would be best, If I stayed with you for a while."

Hisoka turned back to look at the brunet. "I don't need a guardian."

The brunet looked at the pale face, focusing on the jade chips of ice that drew him in every time. "Regardless, I need to be there. You may not agree but it's for the best." Tsuzuki's eyes flashed with fury before it was quickly suppressed. He could not think about Muraki it seemed without feeling homicidal. He forced a smile to his face. "It'll be fun you'll see." He assured the youth.

"I doubt that." The youth responded with a frown. He didn't like the idea of them being together all the time. He needed his space. He was used to being alone. He could think of a dozen reasons why this was wrong. Why it was such a bad idea but he was empathic. Because of that he'd shared Tsuzuki's dream, snips of their past together. He felt the brunet's feelings, his anger but mainly his fears right up until the childlike man had shielded what he felt. When had Tsuzuki decided to hide himself from him?

Hisoka fixed his own mask, schooling his features back into aloofness. "You understand I will manage your money. I can't have you splurging with your half of the grocery money." He kept his voice even when he spoke to the childlike man.

The brunet laughed nervously. "Ne, Hisoka isn't that going a bit far?"

"My house, my rules." Hisoka responded in a no nonsense tone.

Tsuzuki conceded. It meant no more sweets for breakfast but it was worth it to keep the youth safe. Tsuzuki yawned causing the youth to yawn as well. "Why don't you nap?" He suggested feeling his own eyes heavy.

Hisoka felt sleep tug on his senses. He'd been sure he wasn't sleepy. Still his eyes were heavy so it must mean he was wrong. "Only for a while." He slurred as his eyes closed.

The older man yawned, caressing the slender hand between his larger palms. Hisoka would know it was his feelings of sleep that drove him into a nap. Still he wouldn't know that till woke again. Tsuzuki placed his head in the same spot as before less than an inch between the youth's hand and his head. He liked being close to the boy. Just in case. He would be here as long as the youth needed him. 'As close as you allow,' he thought as he finally succumbed to sleep.

Well there we go for the second part. I hope you're all following along. Angst/Romance stories are my touch stone. And as so you must know that our green-eyed shinigami will have to suffer in later chapters. Just a small warning. In respect with the story I'm following the line of thought as to what would have happened if Muraki had been successful in his research. Like any scientist you need a guinea pig to either prove or disprove your work. Test subjects, if rebuked are used to fix any anomalies so that your next subject will ultimately be faultless. Still if you guys have questions. E-mail me, just be sure to add your address so that I can respond. Thanks.

Latin

Admiror : to wonder at, admire, marvel at.

The chapter has this title because Hisoka's new body, this genetically engineered creation is something to be in awe of. Something to admire and marvel at.